Sep 21(ABC): The red zone in the federal capital has been sealed with shipping containers in view of the potential protest long march or the sit-in of the PTI demanding early elections, reported on Wednesday.
Access to the prominent D-Chowk has been restricted overnight after authorities placed barbed wires and shipping containers alongside the road.
Additional police force has been deployed at the exit and entry points of the federal capital.
To cope with the emergency situation, the Islamabad police has asked for 30,000 personnel of police, paratroopers and the FC force from the provinces — 20,000 from Punjab, 4,000 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 6,000 personnel of the Rangers and the FC force.
The provincial governments of Punjab and KP have not yet decided how to respond to the Islamabad request.
The city administration plans to dig trenches in addition to placing hundreds of containers at the entrances of Islamabad to prevent the PTI supporters from entering the federal capital. The Islamabad police termed it the fourth protest sit-in of the PTI.
According to sources, an extra supply of teargas shells and drones to hurl teargas shells has been requisitioned.
At least 3,000 FC personnel have already reached Islamabad.
“Some people from Punjab have set out for the federal capital to get their political demands,” read a statement issued by the Islamabad police’s spokesperson.
The spokesperson said the security around the red zone has been beefed up to deal with any untoward incident.
Section 144 has been imposed in Islamabad, it stated, saying the violators will be dealt with according to law, it stated.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan, earlier this month, had directed the party leaders from the KP to start preparations for a long march in Islamabad. He also called upon the party workers to wait for the Islamabad call, as a decision to go to the federal capital has been made.
“Imported government cannot be given more time,” he said.